In at least one embodiment, an ambient lighting system comprising a lighting module and a controller is provided. The lighting module is configured to drive a light emitting device (LED) arrangement to display a desired ambient color in response to a lighting control signal and to transmit a lighting status signal providing diagnostic information for one of the lighting module and the LED arrangement. The controller is configured to transmit the lighting control signal including first digital data indicative of the desired ambient color and a feed signal for powering the lighting module on a bi-directional data communication bus between the controller and the lighting module. The controller is further configured to receive the lighting status signal on the bi-directional data communication bus.